Viola rafinesquei

Viola rafinesquii (syn. Viola bicolor), commonly known as the American field pansy or wild pansy, is an annual plant in the violet family found throughout much of North America.^[2] There has been some debate as to whether the plant is native to North America or if it was introduced from the Old World as a variety of Viola kitaibeliana, but it is now generally thought to be native to the North America.^[3] It is common in disturbed habitats but is also found in fields and open woods on substrates ranging from sandy soil to clay to limestone.^[4][5][6]

Viola rafinesquei
A light morph flower growing in a sandy field along the mouth of the James River in southeastern Virginia
Conservation status
Secure  (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Violaceae
Genus:	Viola
Species:	V. rafinesqueii
Binomial name
Viola rafinesqueii Greene
Synonyms[2]
Mnemion rafinesquei (Greene) Nieuwl. Mnemion tenellum Webb Viola bicolor Pursh Viola kitaibeliana var. rafinesquei (Greene) Fernald Viola rafinesquei f. minor Moldenke

Viola rafinesqueii displaying its typical pale blue color.

Distribution and habitat

The American field pansy is native to North America, and can be found throughout eastern and central United States^[7]. It can also be found in Colorado^[8].

Taxonomy

V. rafinesquii was originally classified as Viola tenella^[9]. This name has since then been abandoned, as it was also used to refer to Viola kitaibeliana, which is native to Europe^[10]. The wild pansy has also been categorized as Viola bicolor, which has since been determined to be the same plant^[9]. V. bicolor was considered to be synonymous with Viola tricolor, however this plant is native to Europe^[9].